Layered catalyst composite

Abstract

A layered, three-way conversion catalyst having the capability of simultaneously catalyzing the oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide and the reduction of nitrogen oxides is disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the catalyst comprises three layers in conjunction with a carrier: a first layer deposited on the carrier and comprising palladium deposited on a refractory metal oxide and an oxygen storage component; a second layer deposited on the first layer and comprising rhodium deposited on a refractory metal oxide and an oxygen storage component; and a third layer deposited on the second layer and comprising palladium deposited on a refractory metal oxide.

1. A layered catalyst composite comprising: (a) a carrier; (b) a first layer deposited on the carrier, the first layer comprising palladium deposited on an activated alumina support; (c) a second layer deposited on the first layer, the second layer comprising rhodium deposited on a refractory metal oxide support; and (d) a third layer deposited on the second layer, the third layer comprising palladium deposited on a refractory metal oxide support. 
     
     
       2. The composite of  claim 1  wherein each of the three layers is deposited in a loading of about 0.2 to about 2.5 g/in 3 . 
     
     
       3. The composite of  claim 2  wherein each of the three layers is deposited in a loading of about 0.5 to about 1.5 g/in 3 . 
     
     
       4. The composite of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first, second, and third layers further comprises an oxygen storage component. 
     
     
       5. The composite of  claim 4  wherein the first layer and the second layer each independently comprises an oxygen storage component. 
     
     
       6. The composite of  claim 4  wherein at least one layer comprises a first oxygen storage component having a first ceria content and a second oxygen storage component having a second ceria content. 
     
     
       7. The composite of  claim 4  wherein the at least one layer comprises the oxygen storage component, having a ceria content in the range of 3 to 98%, in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 1.5 g/in 3 . 
     
     
       8. The composite of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a metal oxide comprising γ-alumina or promoter-stabilized γ-alumina having a specific surface area of about 50 to 300 m 2 /g. 
     
     
       9. The composite of  claim 8  wherein the alumina present in the second layer is stabilized by zirconia, lanthana, or combinations thereof, the alumina being present in a loading of about 0.2 to about 2.0 g/in 3 . 
     
     
       10. The composite of  claim 8  wherein the alumina present in the first layer, the third layer, or both is at a loading of about 0.2 to about 2.5 g/in 3  and comprises gamma alumina stabilized by baria, neodymia, lanthana, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       11. The composite of  claim 1  wherein the first layer comprises up to about 200 g/ft 3  of palladium and up to 70% of the total palladium in the composite. 
     
     
       12. The composite of  claim 11  wherein the second layer comprises up to about 50 g/ft 3  of rhodium. 
     
     
       13. The composite of  claim 12  wherein the third layer further comprises up to about 330 g/ft 3  or from about 30% to less than 100% of the total palladium in the composite. 
     
     
       14. The composite of  claim 12  wherein the second layer further comprises 0 to about 1.5 g/in 3  of an oxygen storage component with ceria content 30% to 98%. 
     
     
       15. The composite of  claim 4  wherein the oxygen storage component comprises one or more oxides of one or more rare earth metals selected from the group consisting of cerium, zirconium praseodymium, lanthanum, yttrium, samarium, gadolium, dysprosium, ytterbium, niobium, neodymium, and mixtures of two or more thereof. 
     
     
       16. The composite of  claim 14  wherein the oxygen storage component comprises one or more oxides of one or more rare earth metals selected from the group consisting of cerium, zirconium praseodymium, lanthanum, yttrium, samarium, gadolium, dysprosium, ytterbium, niobium, neodymium, and mixtures of two or more thereof. 
     
     
       17. The composite of  claim 1  wherein the first layer further comprises 0 to about 0.65 g/in 3  of a promoter/stabilizer comprising one or more non-reducible metal oxides wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of barium, calcium, magnesium, strontium, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       18. The composite of  claim 11  wherein the first layer further comprises 0 to about 0.65 g/in 3  of one or more promoters comprising one or more rare earth metals selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, praseodymium, yttrium, zirconium, neodymium, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       19. The composite of  claim 1  wherein the second layer comprises rhodium at a loading of up to about 50 g/ft 3  and platinum at a loading of up to about 50 g/ft 3 . 
     
     
       20. The composite of  claim 19  wherein the second layer farther comprises 0 to about 0.3 g/in 3  of one or more promoters comprising one or more rare earth metals selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, yttrium, zirconium and mixtures/composites thereof 
     
     
       21. An exhaust gas treatment article comprising:
 a substrate comprising an inlet axial end, an outlet axial end, wall elements having a length extending between the inlet axial end to the outlet axial end and a plurality of axially enclosed channels defined by the wall elements; and 
 an inlet composite catalyst deposited on the wall elements adjacent the inlet axial end and having a length extending less than the wall length of the wall elements, wherein the inlet catalyst composite comprises the catalyst composite of  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       22. The exhaust gas treatment article of  claim 21 , further comprising an outlet catalyst composite adjacent the outlet axial end and having a length extending for less than the length of the wall elements, the outlet catalyst composite comprises a first layer deposited on the carrier, the first layer comprising palladium deposited on a support and a second layer deposited on the first layer, the second layer comprising rhodium, and optionally platinum, deposited on a support. 
     
     
       23. The exhaust gas treatment article of  claim 22  , wherein the inlet catalyst composite overlaps the outlet catalyst composite. 
     
     
       24. The exhaust gas treatment article of  claim 22  , wherein the inlet catalyst composite comprises between about 10% to about 100% of the total volume the first and second catalyst composites. 
     
     
       25. A method for treating a gas comprising hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides which comprises flowing the gas to a catalyst member, and catalytically oxidizing the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide and catalytically reducing the nitrogen oxides in the gas in the presence of the catalyst member, the catalyst member comprising a layered catalyst composite comprising: (a) a carrier; (b) a first layer deposited on the carrier, the first layer comprising palladium deposited on an activated alumina support;
 (c) a second layer deposited on the first layer, the second layer comprising rhodium deposited on a refractory metal oxide support; and (d) a third layer deposited on the second layer, the third layer comprising palladium deposited on a refractory metal oxide support. 
 
     
     
       26. The composite of  claim 1  wherein the activated alumina comprises gamma-alumina. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25  wherein the activated alumina comprises gamma-alumina.